Exerpts from Budget Presentation--Hon John Briceno: State of the Belizean Economy-----. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister would have us believe that optimism is everywhere and that we are as he said, “still living in a good country.” We will all recall that famous line back in 2008 when the Prime Minister said he would bring down the cost of living NO Matter What! Here is what the SIB said about the cost of living in January 2014. [and I quote] “Prices for food and transport, the major contributors to this month’s inflation, were up by 4 percent and 5 percent respectively. Among Food items, vegetables prices accounted for most of the increase, rising by an average of 21 percent compared to a year ago. Most notably, the average price for tomatoes more than doubled. While those for sweet pepper, cabbage, red kidney beans and black beans all rose by at least 20 percent.” [end of quote] I have here with me the January report from the SIB and it lists what’s in our food basket, giving the prices for things like beef, rice, flour, sugar, red kidney beans, chicken, onions, milk, eggs and other products that make up the basket. Of the 19 items only two items were cheaper in January last year than they were this January. Everything else went up, some like red kidney beans went up by 33½ percent, ground beef by 25½ percent. Vegetables like sweet peppers and cabbage increased by more than 50 percent. Even limes are at 75 cents per unit…no more lime juice Mr. Speaker much less a ceviche for Easter I say again Mr. Speaker, the real feel of the Belizean people is far removed from where the Prime Minister resides. Out there in southern Belize where the poorest Belizeans live; in Corozal where our second poorest Belizeans live and in South Side Belize City it is not the make believe world of Shakespeare, it is neck and back Sunday dinner, ramen lunches and as my good friend Cordel Hyde would say, “gourmet Vienna sausage and potted meat.” People are not living the good life, the life of up lift, our women have to put their hands to the shovel and the pickaxe, not that there is anything wrong with that, but this is no career, it’s a job. It is not what they desire or deserve. The Prime Minister proclaimed this a year of miracles. He will create this miracle with a GDP growth of hopefully 2 percent, Cost of living, according to him will “pick up a bit” meaning that the beans and the rice and the vegetables will go up even more. And on top of that, the government plans to collect $37 million dollars more in taxes in this “annus mirabilis” So that while public officers and teachers will be given a much deserved $34 million in salary adjustments, he will squeeze from all our pockets $37 million more in taxes. How can our PM celebrate when our profile internationally shows a different reality? We are ranked lower than many of the small economies he compared us to when it come to doing business.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 19:03:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015